Zair Azgur

Zair Azgur was born on January 15, 1908, in Mawchany in Vitebsk province. Studying at the Vitebsk Art College under Yudol Pen and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Leningrad, Azgur became one of the preeminent portrait sculptors in Eurasia.

During World War II, he worked at the Central Staff of the Partisan Movement, sculpting portrait busts of legendary Belarusian partisan commanders. After the war, Azgur created the monumental ensemble of Yakub Kolas Square in Minsk, the monument to Yanka Kupala, and portrait galleries of hundreds of writers, philosophers, and military leaders. His Minsk studio is now preserved as the Azgur Memorial Museum.